red moscow

Chapter 2600

Sokov began to write the basic data of the PKM general-purpose machine gun on the blueprint: "The total length of the gun body is 1192mm, of which the barrel is 645mm long, the rifled part is 550mm long, there are 4 rifling grooves, right-handed..."

The captain who was in charge of assisting Sokov saw Sokov writing down a series of data on the drawings, and quickly poured him a cup of tea and placed it on a corner of the table. After doing all this, he quietly retreated to the wall and sat on a chair in the corner, so that he could appear in front of Sokov the first time when Sokov had any instructions.

Sokov did not notice what the captain was doing. After writing the data, he began to consider some details: the ammunition was fed by the traditional belt, which is also a common method for general-purpose machine guns. However, the belts of machine guns in the United States and the Soviet Union are different. The U.S. military uses a scatterable belt. The advantage is that the belt will be scattered directly after it is used, and it will not become dead weight and will not affect subsequent combat. At the same time, the length of the belt is very flexible. The disadvantage is that it is a bit wasteful, and the scattered belt components are difficult to collect.

The Soviet army's ammunition belt is non-dispersible. After firing, the belt is still hanging on the gun body, which will form a dead weight. Although the relative flexibility of the non-dispersible belt is not that high, the advantage is that it is more economical, and the newly added bullets can be quickly loaded into the belt through tools.

The PKM general-purpose machine gun used a 250-round long chain in the early days, which was later changed to a 25-round short chain. After a long period of testing, it was changed to 100-round, 200-round, and 250-round chains according to actual battlefield needs, greatly increasing flexibility. Later, it was equipped with chain boxes of different sizes. The most common one in the bipod light machine gun mode is a 100-round aluminum alloy chain box.

Sokov had all the detailed data of the machine gun's accessories in his mind, but he didn't want to bring them out too soon. It wasn't that he didn't want to finish the work quickly and get back to see Asia as soon as possible, but if he designed it too quickly, the person in charge would think that design work was an easy task if he could produce the design drawings that were supposed to take ten days or half a month in just one or two days.

In the following days, after Sokov drew a blueprint of a spare part, he would deliberately make repeated revisions, giving people the illusion that he had designed an ideal general-purpose machine gun through constant trial and error.

It was not until the eighth day after accepting the assignment that Sokov finally completed all the drawings.

He put down the drawing tools in his hand, turned around and called the captain sitting in the corner: "Comrade Captain!"

The captain hurriedly stood up and walked in front of Sokov, straightened his back and asked: "Comrade General, what do you want?"

"The drawings have been completed, what should I do next?"

"Comrade General, please wait a moment. I will call my superiors for instructions." After saying that, he turned and walked out of the room.

A few minutes later, the captain came in from outside and said to Sokov, who was sitting at the table drinking tea: "Comrade General, I have asked my superiors. You can hand over this blueprint to Comrade Ustinov in person. He is in his office right now."

"That's great, take me there quickly."

When Sokov arrived at Ustinov's office, he found that the military expert named Andrei was also there. He didn't know whether he was reporting to Ustinov or he came here because he knew that his design drawings were completed.

Sokov came up to Ustinov, raised his hand and saluted, saying: "Comrade People's Commissar, the design drawings of the new machine have been completed."

"Very good, Misha, you did a great job." Ustinov took the blueprint and handed it to the military expert beside him: "Comrade Andrei, please take a look at this design and tell me what you think."

Andre agreed, took the drawings, spread them out on the conference table next to him, and then carefully checked the component data on each drawing.

Ustinov scratched the back of his head and said to Sokov, "Misha, we are about to start an important research and development project. Are you interested in participating?"

Important research and development project? After hearing what Ustinov said, Sokov suddenly remembered that the Soviet Union seemed to have officially established an atomic bomb research and development team in April 1946. This huge project was secretly carried out in the Kurchatov Institute. This institute was established in April 4 and was the most important research and development institution in the field of high-energy physics and nuclear physics in the Soviet Union. It was named after Kurchatov, the first laboratory director and the father of the Soviet atomic bomb.

"Comrade People's Commissar," Sokov did not answer Ustinov's question immediately, but asked tentatively: "I would like to ask, what kind of research and development work is this? Is it the research and development of new aircraft, ships or tanks? If it is the research and development of these technical equipment, please forgive me for my inability to do anything, after all, this involves my blind spot in knowledge."

"No, Misha, it's not what you said." Hearing Sokov's question, Ustinov seemed a little embarrassed, not knowing whether he should tell the truth. If he told the truth, it would be a serious leak; but if he didn't say it, Sokov might refuse.

After thinking it over again and again, Ustinov stood up and walked to a wooden cabinet against the wall behind him, took out the key to open the cabinet door, took out a file bag from it, and then walked back to the table. After he sat down, he took out a document from the file bag and handed it to Sokov: "Misha, before I tell you the answer, please sign this confidentiality agreement first."

Sokov took the confidentiality agreement, but did not check the contents immediately. Instead, he asked Ustinov tentatively: "Comrade People's Commissar, since you want me to sign the confidentiality agreement, it proves that this research and development work is related to our country's destiny. If I know the answer and am unwilling to participate in this huge project, will you lock me up in a secluded place?"

Ustinov did not speak, but tapped the table with his fingers. At first, he tapped very slowly, almost once every two seconds, but as time went on, the tapping speed became faster and faster, even reaching three times a second.

From Ustinov's actions, Sokov could guess that he was in a fierce ideological struggle. If he did not sign the confidentiality agreement, he would not tell him what R&D work he would participate in; but if he signed the confidentiality agreement and knew the R&D project he was going to participate in, but was unwilling to participate, it would not be so easy for him to leave.

"Comrade Andrei," Ustinov stopped tapping on the table and turned to ask the military expert standing in front of the conference table, "Have you finished reading the drawings?"

"Yes, Comrade People's Commissar, I have read it."

"What do you think of this design?"

"Very good." Andre said, "But we will have to wait until the prototype is manufactured to know how effective it is in actual use."

"How long does it take to make a prototype gun?"

Andrei raised his hand to check the time, and then gave Ustinov a specific time: "Comrade People's Commissar, if you give me 48 hours, I can make three to five sample guns according to this drawing."

"Okay." Ustinov nodded and said, "Then I'll give you 48 hours. I hope you can deliver the goods on time." "Comrade People's Commissar, don't worry." Andrei rolled up the drawings and said confidently, "In 48 hours, you will be able to see the sample gun."

Ustinov turned to Sokov and said, "Misha, go back to your office and rest for two days. After you finish testing the sample gun, you can go home."

Sokov raised the confidentiality agreement in his hand and said, "Comrade People's Commissar, what about this confidentiality agreement?"

Ustinov sighed softly and said, "Put it on the table first. As for whether to sign it or not, wait until the test of the sample gun is completed."

After Sokov left the office, Ustinov looked up at Andrei and asked, "Comrade Andrei, tell me, is it okay to let Misha participate in this important project?"

As for Ustinov's question, Andrei shook his head without hesitation, and then said: "I admit that General Sokov has a unique talent in weapon design. But we need talents in the fields of high-energy physics and nuclear physics to carry out important research and development projects. Not to mention that he is not a military expert, even if he is, as a light weapons designer, he can't play any role in such a huge research and development project."

Andrei's words made Ustinov make the final decision: "If that's the case, then I won't invite him to participate in this major research and development project." After that, he picked up the confidentiality agreement on the table and stuffed it into the file bag: "Comrade Andrei, time is running out, you should go back and arrange the production of the sample gun as soon as possible."

Sokov returned to his office and asked the captain: "Comrade Captain, can I call home?"

"Yes, of course." The captain said reasonably, "Your design work has been completed, and it is completely fine to talk to your family. But I would like to remind you that you cannot reveal what you designed to your family."

"Don't worry, Comrade Captain." Sokov said with a smile, "I have learned the confidentiality regulations and know what I can and cannot say. Now, please help me connect the phone at home. I want to talk to my wife."

Asiya hadn't seen Sokov for more than a week. Although Yakov had called Asiya on the day Sokov stayed in the General Armaments Building and told her that Sokov would probably stay in the office for a week or two because he was designing a weapon, so she didn't have to worry.

Now hearing Sokov's voice, Asiya seemed extremely excited: "Misha, have you finished your work?"

"It's basically done. Next we have to wait for the testing." Sokov said apologetically into the microphone: "It may take me two days before I can go back to be with you. By the way, how are you these days? Has the child bothered you?"

When Sokov asked about the baby in her belly, Asiya said happily, "The baby kicks my belly every day. It seems that he wants to come out to see us soon."

"I want to see him sooner, too." Thinking that there was no machine that could detect the sex of the fetus in this era, Sokov said with some regret: "I just don't know if it's a son or a daughter."

"Do you prefer a son or a daughter?"

Although Asia has asked this question no less than a hundred times, Sokov still doesn't think she is nagging. Instead, he smiled and said, "I like both sons and daughters. After all, they are our children." When he said this, Sokov couldn't help but think of his later life when he was doing business in the market. Every time the female salespeople with whom he had a good relationship asked him whether he preferred a son or a daughter, he would answer like this.

"My mother went back to Khimki today," Asiya suddenly said, "She said she would take care of things at home and then come back to be with me. Before the baby is born, she will basically not go back to Khimki."

"That's good, that's good." Sokov felt relieved when he heard what Asiya said. With his mother-in-law by her side, he could handle any emergencies in time even if he was not at home. "With her by your side, I feel more at ease."

"By the way, Comrade Eisenstein called today and said that the actress for 'The Dawns Here Are Quiet' has been chosen, and Serova has agreed to play the role of Lida."

"That's great." Sokov was eager to see Serova's role on the screen as soon as possible, to see if it matched the image of Lida he imagined. "Asia, if Comrade Eisenstein calls me again, tell him that I trust him and that he will make the final decision on all matters related to the filming. He doesn't need to call me any more to ask for my opinion. Remember that?"

"I'll remember that," Asia replied docilely, "Misha, I'll pass your words on to Comrade Eisenstein."

After the two chatted for a while, just as Sokov was about to put down the phone, the captain reminded Sokov: "Comrade General, General Yakov is here!"

"Axia, I have something else to do here. I'll call you when I have time."

Sokov put down the phone, turned around and asked the captain in front of him: "Where is General Yakov?"

"I'm here." Yakov walked in quickly from outside, opened his arms and hugged Sokov, then said: "I heard that your design work has been completed. I was worried that you felt too bored, so I came to see you and chat with you."

"Comrade Captain," Sokov called the captain over and told him, "Didn't you see General Yakov coming? Hurry up and pour him a cup of hot tea."

"Wait a minute," the captain agreed and was about to leave the room, but Yakov stopped him and ordered, "Comrade Captain, go get me some food. I haven't eaten anything since yesterday, and I'm starving."

"Comrade Captain, please bring me some food. I'm hungry too."

After the captain left the room, Sokov asked Yakov curiously: "Yakov, you said you haven't eaten since last night. Did you stay here to work overtime as well?"

"That's right. Our army is preparing to upgrade the existing T-34 tanks. The subordinate design bureau submitted several different plans. Yesterday, we held a whole day of meetings to discuss which plan is more suitable." Yakov said weakly: "When the leaders discussed it, they all forgot to eat and sleep. If they didn't say they were hungry, how could I, as a subordinate, dare to say I was hungry?"

After hearing this, Sokov chuckled a few times: "Yasha, the leaders work so hard that they forget to eat and sleep. If you are hungry, you can sneak out to find something to eat. It won't be too late to go back to work after you are full."